Who was DeArthur Pinson Jr? Suspect accused of shooting and wounding Texas trooper dies by suicide: Sources

Pinson Jr. was barricaded in a home near Mexia, where he was later found dead.

UPDATED MAR 28, 2021

DeArthur Pinson Jr was wanted in connection to a shooting of a Texas DPS Trooper near Mexia, Texas (Texas Dept. of Public Safety)

MEXIA, TEXAS: A suspect who was wanted by police authorities for reportedly shooting a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper on Friday, March 26, night died after he killed himself on Saturday, March 27 evening, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety Officers Association.

DeArthur Pinson Jr, 36, was located at a home off Highway 84 near Mexia where he later killed himself, Limestone County Judge Richard Duncan confirmed to KXXV. A blue alert was issued for Pinson Jr after he allegedly shot Trooper Chad Walker in the head and abdomen. The shooting happened on Highway 84 shortly before 8 pm on Friday, March 26. On Saturday, March 28, the Texas Department of Public Safety Officers Association identified Walker as the trooper shot by the suspect.

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The trooper was responding to a call about Pinson Jr's disabled vehicle which was parked along the roadway, but before Walker could stop, Pinson Jr reportedly emerged from the vehicle with a handgun and fired multiple rounds at Walker. Walker was rushed to Baylor Scott & White's Hillcrest Hospital in Waco where he remains in stable, yet critical condition. Walker, who is from Groesbeck, joined the Texas Department of Public Safety in 2015. He and his wife have a 15-year-old son, twin 7-year-old daughters and a 2-month-old daughter, according to the association.

Pinson Jr reportedly grabbed a black backpack from the disabled vehicle and escaped the scene on foot, triggering a manhunt. Pinson Jr was barricaded in a home near Mexia, where he was later found dead.

Who was DeArthur Pinson Jr

In September 2017, Pinson Jr was arrested by the Palestine Police Department and charged with criminal trespass, a Class B misdemeanor, in Anderson County. In February 2006, he was arrested by the Crockett Police Department and charged with aggravated robbery, a first-degree felony, in Houston County, according to public records. He served a 10-year prison sentence for the offense, records indicate. He was also in the US Army and was arrested by Palestine police in 2003 for military desertion, the newspaper reported.